Three gas-canister blasts target New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki, five injured, one critically

Coordinated arson attacks

In the early hours of Wednesday 1 July 2026, three gas-canister devices were detonated at homes of New Democracy officials across Thessaloniki. The attacks, carried out between 04:18 and 04:35, targeted the residences of Afroditi Nestora, a party candidate and lawyer; Savvas Anastasiadis, a former MP; and Zisis Ioakeimovits, president of the ND Thessaloniki administrative committee. Anti-terrorism investigators believe more than two perpetrators used low-displacement motorcycles to move between the sites, and security camera footage has captured at least one suspect.

Casualties and damage

Five people were injured, all from the first explosion at Nestora’s apartment complex in Charilaou. Her mother suffered severe burns over her entire body and remains intubated in the ICU of Ippokrateio Hospital. Nestora herself sustained light burns to her hands after attempting to extinguish the blaze, while her father and two other tenants were treated for respiratory problems. Two vehicles were completely destroyed and flames reached the first floor, causing structural damage. The second attack, at Anastasiadis’ residence in Toumba, also destroyed two parked cars and broke the building’s glass panels. The third device, placed at Ioakeimovits’ property in Pylaia, caused no material harm.

Investigation

The Directorate for the Confrontation of Special Violent Crimes (DAEEB), Greece’s anti-terrorism unit, has taken over the case. Officers are collecting witness statements and analysing video from nearby security cameras; one camera recorded an individual placing the gas canister at Anastasiadis’ building. Authorities consider the three incidents a coordinated operation, carried out within seventeen minutes.

Political reaction

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias called the attacks “absolutely condemnable” and said they “directly target our Democracy.”

“The absolutely condemnable attack in Thessaloniki against the homes of former ND MP Savvas Anastasiadis, president of the Administrative Committee Zisis Ioakeimovits and parliamentary candidate Afroditi Nestora, directly targets our Democracy.”

Zisis Ioakeimovits, one of the targeted officials, described the act as “a blow to Democracy and the smooth functioning of our society.” Alexandra Sdoukou, a fellow New Democracy figure, labelled the arsons “terrorist acts.” The government is treating the case as a serious assault on democratic institutions.

“Such actions, wherever they come from, are a blow to Democracy and the smooth functioning of our society.”

“The arson attacks against ND politicians are terrorist acts.”